Family

My name is Lindsay; I am the oldest of five children, daughter of a great mom, wife to Matthew, mommy to three spunky kids, aspiring photographer and a child of the King. I love photography and try to learn as much about it as I can.  Crafting and spending time outdoors are also some of my favorite past times. 

I spend most days being a mom and wife.  It's a full time job, a hard job but one that I have spent my entire life practicing for.  The piles of laundry, dishes and toys can be overwhelming at times but the memories I have with my child are worth every moment!  I also clean a couple houses and babysit a few days a week.  This gives me a little quiet time and extra money as well as giving my kids time to play with their buddies.

Matt and I were married in October of 2005.  It was a terribly rainy day, our outdoor reception had ankle deep water running through it and people changed into barn boots, jackets and hats.  Many things went not as planned but it was memorable nonetheless and we were happy to be married.

Three short months later we learned we were going to be parents.  After 8 months of vomiting and sever heart burn Wesley burst into our lives and we were forever changed not to mention completely and utterly in love with our drooling darling.  From day one this little guy  kept us moving, he is a busy character, one of a kind, a challenge and a sweet heart.  He says the craziest things,  does dangerous stunts, talks nonstop and has an amazing memory.  He's a leader and very strong willed but willing to help, full of life and has never met someone who he does not instantly call his friend.

Two and a half years later we welcomed a much calmer more relaxed Felicity into your family.  Her mellow snugly personality was a pleasant surprise.  She did things in her own time and wouldn't be pushed into walking, crawling or talking.  She has a tough, I mean business side to her when she needs it and can take care of herself when she plays with the big boys. She is all things girly but loves to get dirty and find bugs with her brother, while wearing pretty bows in her hair.  She is tender with her babies and tucks their into bed with her almost every night.

This past July we welcomed our newest member Charlie.  He is a little sweet heart and a very easy smiler.  He's not my easiest baby nor my hardest.  He has a slightly different but absolutely adorable look than his older siblings.  He is strong and wiry like Wesley but loves to cuddle like Felicity.

Our family also includes some feathered members.  We have three pekin ducks; Love Duck, Donald and Daisy (original I know) and three hens, Ruby, Hattie, and Hannah.  They not only leave us piles of poop in the grass but fresh eggs every morning.  We love our feathered friends and look forward to possible ducklings this spring.

To the moon

.

 I just love these munchkins to the moon and back a bazillion times.

Even when I'm so tired that I can't talk right,

 

when I smell like spit up,

when I'm holding puke and pee soaked clothes and its not all from the newborn,

when all three are happily sitting together long enough for my to capture a memory to remember how short of a time I will be a puke covered sleep deprived Mommy to three small and incredibly adorable children.

Blessed

 Charlie is 2 1/2 weeks old already and I am beginning to feel bad that I have not posted more photos of him or about life since he made his speedy arrival.  I started to write his birth post but  have not been able to finish it yet.  My sweet baby is a hungry boy and not a great nurser which means I spend hours and hours a day sitting and nursing him.  The other two would nurse easily but Charlie requires two hands and all my attention so I don't have much time to use the computer.  I don't mind much though, it gives me plenty of time to look at and cherish all his sweetness.

 These photos happened on accident and I am so glad that they did!  I was photographing Charlie for his birth announcement and the older two were running around the yard while Kirstie  (my visiting sister from Texas) and my mom devoted our attention to Charlie.  When we walked out in the field to my favorite box, the kids followed and I quickly removed Wes' dirty shirt and could not be happier with the photos that followed.

I can see so clearly see the curiosity and love in Wesley's face as he snuggles his little brother.   I'm always impressed with how well Wesley does when he gets a new sibling.  He instantly loves and accepts them and cares and worries about them as if they were always a part of the family.

  Both kids have done so well with Charlie!  Felicity was not overly thrilled when she visited in the hospital and protested me nursing Charlie the first two days home.  She has since adjusted and often sits right next to me while I feed Charlie now.  She and Wesley dote on Charlie and cover him in kisses through out the day.  Felicity likes to snuggle and hold Charlie and if not watched closely will try to pick him up. 

 Charlie seems to be a combination of Wes and Felicity.  He is not as alert or needy as Wesley was or as calm and content as Felicity.  He enjoys being held in both a wrap and a sling like Felicity but hate having his hands swaddled like Wes.  His appetite is very much like Wes' (he eats a lot) but can be persuaded to wait a little while with a binki like his sister.  I am amazed that Matt and I can make three different children that are so much alike and so very different. 

 I am so in love with our newest family member and how he made us into a family of five!  I love watching the children interact with each other and see their expressions as they watch Charlie squiggle and groan.  I love how Charlie has made Felicity a big sister and how she just loves her new role.  I'm amazed how big she now seems and pleasantly surprised that she still snuggles and cuddles with me just as much as before Charlie arrived.  I am just so blessed to have big kids how want to help and get diapers, pacifiers, and burp clothes for me, who help out and enjoy their little brother.

God has really truly blessed us with all three of our children!  They are healthy, full of life and beautiful.  Matt and I are very thankful and blessed.

Picnic

 On the forth we met Matthew's family at a spot near a local creek for a very relaxed picnic.  It was  the kind where you bring your own lunch and just enjoy each other's company.

 Matt's sister Marisa showed the kids how to put maple seeds on their noses.  I remember doing that as a kid but never thought to do it with my own.   I'm glad she thought of it.

 

 We thought about walking along the creek and letting the kids play but it had recently rained and the creek was swollen and rushing.  We made due and had plenty of fun with out the water.

 

We saw a snake and found out that Wes really  does not like them.

 We announced to Matt's family that we have finally picked a name for our sweet little boy who could be arriving any day now!

 I'm not going to announce his name here until he makes his grand appearance just in case we go with another name but I think the name we picked is going to be final.

I learned a lesson this Fourth of July.  You don't always have to have a perfect spot or lots to do to have a fun family picnic.  The kids were plenty happy with sticks and maple seeds and did not need play grounds or pools to be entertained.  Sometimes I tend to forget that the best play is simple play.  I'll try to remember that next time we plan a spur of the moment family gathering.

Fireworks!

 This year we went to two different firework shows.  I only took photos at the first show, which turned out to be the best show.

 There was a small carnival set up with lots fried food and sweet treats.   Matt treated us to a big bag of cotton candy and we all devoured it while waiting for it to get dark enough for the show to begin.

 Matt's cousin Jeffery and his fiance Patty showed up shortly after we finished wiping off all our cotton candy faces.

 

The kids are in love with Jeffery and his brother Jeremy who live two houses down from us.  They climbed up him and Patty giving Matt and I a chance to walk together and  hold each other's hands for a change.  It's nice to see the kids loving on other family members and making memories.

 Jeff treated the kids to their first snow cones!   Wes got a cherry cone and Felicity blue raspberry.  Needless to say Felicity's sweater may never be the same. 

 She loved every staining minute of her special treat! 

 

The fireworks did not start till almost 10 and by that time Felicity, who is still uncertain she like them was getting very tired. (She clings to you like Velcro and occasionally lets out a nervous giggle)  She snuggled up on Patty and went into a weird trance and eventually fell to sleep.

 Wes on the other hand bounced around from person to person commenting on nearly every firework.  Asking how they were different colors, were the ashes go, how they make different shapes and all sorts of other questions I really did not have answers for.

 The wind was blowing right towards us and with it came ashes and even some red embers.  This was just about the greatest thing ever if you were Wesley!  He was thrilled to see the embers glowing on the ground and quickly ran to stamp them out. 

You would think with all the excitement combined with the late hour would have left Wes exhausted but it did not.  He talked unstop the whole almost hour ride home.   Felicity woke up as I put her in the car and stayed awake till about five minutes from home as well.  I think it may have had something to do with all the sugar they consumed but it was all worth it and we had a great evening!

What did you do this 4th of July weekend?

Summer Time

Summer time

 

 is the best time

to play

outside

all day

 with your Daddy.

Summer time

is the perfect time

to play

until past

bedtime.

We love

Summer time!

Father's Day

I'm late once again but it's better to be late than never to write at all, right?  Either way, I'm here now because if I don't write it down I just might forget what I great day we had and that would be very sad.

 Every year Father's Day falls on a tractor show near us.  Which means every year we spend Father's Day breathing in tractor fumes and going for rides in the tractor parade.  I used to ride with Matt similary to the way his cousin Jeremy is, by standing on the back but since having kids I have taken to photographing the event and letting the kids ride.  This year Wes insisted that Jeremy ride with them.  He just loves Jeremy. 

Wes rode on a seat that Matt made on the fender and Felicity drove.  Matt said that she actually drove for a good part of the parade.  She loves to ride on the tractor or four wheeler with her Daddy or anyone who is willing to give her a ride!  

The show was full this year and it was the first year in a long time that I remember it not raining or being so stinken hot that your free helium balloons pop the instant they get into the sweltering car!  This year our balloons made it home or I should say one made it home.  I  accidentally let one fly out the window of the car while trying to take a photo of the guys driving the tractors home.  Oops!

Wes is right at home at these shows.  He walks around and shows off the equipment like he runs the place.  This year he led Jeremy around more than Matt but that was just fine with Felicity because it meant she got her Daddy all to herself.  She eats up anytime alone with her Daddy.

A trip to the Gas Up would not be complete without seeing friendly familiar faces or riding on the pedal tractors.  This year Felicity and Bradley were big enough to pedal the tractors some.  

The ride home is always a favorite!  Matt took Felicity for the first time,  I was leery on letting her go for such a long ride but she and Matt insisted so I followed in case she needed me.  She did not.  Wes of course went with Jeremy.   

We rounded out the night with a camp fire, hot dogs and smore's.  It was a great day and Matt deserved every moment of it!